Public Health Nurses in Schools

School Public Health Nurses (PHNs) partner with schools to create healthier school communities in order to support student achievement. Email healthyschools@hamilton.ca with comments, questions, or to contact your PHN.

All schools will receive access to school-aged population health information and resources. Some schools will receive targeted services, meaning regular and intensive PHN support. These schools were identified through a collaborative process between Public Health Services and School Boards, informed by population health assessment data.

All schools will receive universal services. Each school’s PHN will:

• Share population health data to identify health priorities
• Promote web-based, community, and curriculum support resources through the Healthy Schools website
• Network between schools, City of Hamilton programs & services and community resources for support with health topics
• Partner with schools to coordinate school-based Public Health Services (such as immunization, dental, vision screening, tobacco control)
• Provide consultations to address health priorities and how to create healthy, safe and supportive school environments

In schools receiving targeted services, PHNs also:

• Use population health data to support School Improvement Plans
• Support administrators to monitor the health and well-being of students and the school community
• Create a comprehensive school health plan that engages the full school community (youth, principal, teachers, parents, caregivers, and the community)
• Support schools with using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework
• Consult around health system navigation for individual health issues
• Advise and support the development and roll-out of school health policies